Carrara Chain Tensioner Bleeding
 

Has anyone had experience in bleeding tensioners?

I saw a video that was trying to bleed them by submerging in oil. I tried to bleed and I for sure got some oil in the tensioners, but never a squirting of fluid like bleeding a brake master cylinder.

Comments requested

The method I've used with success is with a syringe. Fill it full of oil and push the end into the oil feed hole for the tensioner. It helps if you use a rubber washer to help maintain the seal while pressurizing with the syringe. The oil won' t squirt out of the overflow at the tip, you should see/hear bubbles as the tensioner fills. Once there are no more bubbles then the tensioner is likely full and good to go.

I was using a syringe but only to feed/drip oil into the oil supply inlet. I like your idea to use a washer. I bet an o-ring would do the trick. I’ll be trying your idea this morning. Thanks

if memory serves me well, I do indeed think I used an O-ring. Hope it works out and looking forward to hearing the outcome.

Pressure fed tensioners will charge with oil in a heart beat. I’ve never tried to pre oil pressure fed tensioners.

Ditto what Glen said. ^^

I’m always sweating the small stuff. Thanks guys

it's nice to bleed them and then see how fast or slow they bleed down in a vise so you can put the pin in. Slow, with effort is best.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1708476838.jpg

John:
Thank you for that information regarding the pressure-fed tensioners.

One dumb question please, after timing the cams on both sides and then placing the tensioners into the slot...are they supposed to move up and down?
In other words, as the crank rotates clockwise I noticed the tensioner cylinder moving and adjusting to the tension on the chain. It appears the chain is still tensioning, but I was wondering if it should be "static" and not move at all. Worried it is affecting the timing of the cams.
Hope this makes sense, and as always "thank you" for your expertise!!

The springs on my old ones had much more tension. My new ones did move in and out when turning the engine over. With oil pressure it will pick up a bunch more tension.

Porschedude996:

Thank you for that. I was worried..paranoid is a better word that something had gone wrong.

I too was concerned when I spun it over by hand and the tensioner sprocket dipped and felt wrong. Like I had pistons hitting the head, or I indexed the cams 90 degrees off. I pulled the timing sprockets and tensioners. Went and reread the setup. Key Way at 12:00. It was dang it! I assembled and used my old tensioners converted to a screw adjustable tensioner for timing only. Something like Stomski Racing sells. With it like I had it, short the oil fed tensioners, it felt great on the end of my braker bar when running it 10-15 revs. I put the oil fed ones in and it behaved.

Shim the tensioners piston so if they get oil starved at anytime the engine is running ie loss of oil supply, you are safe…. = the smart racing Jerry woods kit